Raytheon and DRS Technologies have again teamed to provide the U.S. Army with third-generation forward-looking infrared technology.

The two companies had previously teamed on the Army's second-generation FLIR program, which saw nearly 20,000 sensors fielded to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps during the last decade.

The vision technology is used in the commander's independent thermal viewer and gunner's primary sight on Abrams Main Battle Tanks; the improved acquisition sub-system and commander's independent viewer on Bradley Fighting vehicles; the Army's long-range, advanced Scout surveillance system, and the close-in weapons system of the Navy.

The new teaming is to produce third-generation Improved Forward Looking Infrared program B-Kits.

"Raytheon and DRS have teamed to provide an IFLIR solution that provides our military supremacy in reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition," said Dr. Taylor Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. "The 3rd Gen IFLIR program is critical to our military forces and necessary to sustain our soldier's combat advantage."

Added DRS C4ISR Group President Sally Wallace: "The Army and our team have a strong track record of delivering state-of-the-art next generation FLIR technology on our nation's premiere ground vehicle combat platforms. Our experience integrating a common FLIR across the Army's combat vehicle platforms is critical to synchronizing the Army's modernization strategy."